By Joe Hathaway on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
SALEM — Governor Tina Kotek held a symbolic signing ceremony for seven new bills on Monday, August 21 that she says “addresses public safety in communities across the state.”
One of the bills signed was the controversial House Bill 2005, which cracks down on so-called “ghost guns.” HB 2005 was one of the bills that led to the six-week walkout by Senate Republicans earlier this year. The walkout ended when Senate Democrats agreed to scale down the bill.
The more expansive version of House Bill 2005 would have raised the minimum age to purchase most guns from 18 to 21 and given Oregon cities the option to ban firearms in public buildings, in addition to cracking down on untraceable firearms. The final version only maintains the ghost gun ban, establishing fines and jail time for the sale or possession of 3D printed guns with the serial numbers removed or unfinished gun frames and receivers.
The other bills the Governor signed are: